Julia Alston Gourdine papers

The collection is divided into four series:

1. Biographical Records contains report cards, commencement exercises, event programs, scrapbooks, certificates, photographs (mostly unidentified) newspaper clippings and other school related materials pertaining to Julia Gourdine's high school and college education and career as an elementary school educator. This series also holds brief correspondence and materials reflecting Gourdine's participation in local and national clubs, sororities and organizations including the Order of the Eastern Star, and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority. Also included are documents and photographs (mostly unidentified) from a dissembled scrapbook, pertaining to her family, mostly of Gourdine's mother, Addie Middleton Alston; sisters, Adeline and Kathleen Alston, husband, Robert Holmes Gourdine, Jr. and son, Robert H. Gourdine, III.

2. Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church, Charleston, SC contains documents that are reflective of Gourdine's duties as secretary for Emanuel's Senior Trustee Board. Included are materials relating to Emanuel's history; service and special event booklets and programs. Administrative papers contains meeting agendas and minutes; memorandums and correspondence; committees and clubs activities; financial reports; banking documents; invoices and receipts; insurance policies; and documents relating to church renovations and real estate. Of note is a mimeographed copy of "Songs of Freedom," a collection of spirituals, gospel, and folk songs sung during the Civil Rights Movement. This copy was owned and signed by Septima Poinsette Clark and used during her time at the Highlander Folk School, (Monteagle, Tennessee, circa 1960). Also included is the original signed petition from Emanuel Church members requesting the reinstatement of Clark's retirement pension from the State of South Carolina Department of Education, (1979).

3. African Methodist Episcopal Church Associations and Affiliations holds materials collected by Gourdine and her mother Addie M. Alston. The sub-series of the Women's Missionary Society of the African Methodist Episcopal Church contains workbooks, reports, programs, certificates, and photographs from annual conventions. The second sub-series include materials (programs, convention minute booklets, A.M.E. journals and publications) from other A.M.E. churches, in South Carolina and in other states.

4. Artifacts contains dismantled plaques awarded to Gourdine from Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church, Edisto District of the Women's Missionary Society, and the Order of the Eastern Star, Poinsetta Chapter.